Curtain-ring.



PATENTED SEPT. 6, 1904.

J. W. LESLIE. CURTAIN RING.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 22, 1904.

N0 MODEL.

UNITED STATES Patented September 6, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

CURTAIN-RING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 769,551, dated September 6, 1904.

Application filed. January 22, 190 Serial No. 190,100. (No model.)

To (1 7/ Ir]! 0111' if may concern:

Be it known that 1, JAMES W. LESLIE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of l \Vaketield, county of Middlesex, State of asl sachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Curtain-Rings, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like characters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention has for its object the production of a novel, simple, and etlicient curtain-ring of small cost and having a high degree of strength and durability.

A simple form of antifrictiori-bearing is combined with the ring to reduce to a minimum resistance to free and ready movement thereof upon the supporting rod or pole.

l have herein shown my invention as applied to a curtain-ring of thin metal tubing, preferably brass, and have provided strong and effective means for securing firmly together the ends of the rin The various novel features of my invention will be fully described in the subjoined specification and particularly pointed out in the following claims.

Figure l is an elevation of a curtain-ring embodying one form of my present invention, supported on a pole, shown in section. Fig. 2 is an enlarged section on the line 2 2, Fig. 3, showing the construction of the antifrictionbearing by which the ease of movement of the ring is attained. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of one of the bearings, the ring being shown in section on the line 3 3, Fig. 2. Fig. 4.: is a perspective view of a locking device shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Fig. 5 is a View similar to Fig. 3, partly broken out, of a modified form of antifrictionbearing; and Fig. 6 a view, partly in elevation and section, of a modification of the locking means to be referred to.

The ring proper (indicated at l) is preferably made of thin metal tubing, and conveniently the rings are made by coiling the tube around a mandrel in the form of a spiral, the latter then being cut longitudinally by a saw to separate the spiral into rings. The two ends of each ring are in the present instance butted together and firmly held in place, and as a part of the locking means I make transverse slots 2 in the ring, near each end thereof. (See Fig. 2.) A sleeve 3 is slipped over the abutted ends, the sleeve having slots t, which register with the slots 2, and suitable locking devices are passed through the pairs of slots.

A convenient form of locking device is shown separately in Fig. -t, it consisting of a body 5, of sheet metal, having an overhanging curved head 6 and a spring tongue or catch 7 in the body, the tip of the catch being extended toward the head. The body 5 is pushed into the interior of the ring 1. through the registering slots 2 i, the tongue yielding until its free end or tip passes into the ring, whereupon it springs out, as shown in Fig. 2, and the head 6 rests upon the adjacent portion of the sleeve. The distance between the head 6 and the tip of the tongue is sullicient to accommodate. the metal of the ring and sleeve, and it will be manifest from Fig. 2 that while the locking device can be readily inserted in cannot be removed after it catches or locks without breaking the ring.

I prefer to use two sleeves for each ringone at the joint and one about ninety degrees therefrom, the latter being fastened in place by similar locking means, though usually one of the locking devices will be sufficient for the second sleeve. Each sleeve is provided with two parallel annular flanges 8 adjacent the inner sides of the slots -L, as shown in Fig. 2, and said flanges are peripherally notched at a point within the inner circumference of the ring 1, as at 9, Fig. 3, to receive the journals 10 of an antifriction-bearing, (shown as a roll 11.) The diameter of the roll is such that its circumference extends beyond the edges of the flanges 8. An annulus loosely surrounds the flanged portion of the sleeve and is adapted to revolve on the bearing-roll 11, said annulus resting upon and rolling over the pole or other support 1 for the curtain-ring. 1 make the annulus preferably in two parts, and herein 1 have shown it as composed of two flat rings 12 and 13, telescoped one within the other and having inturned circular flanges 12 13 respectively, at their opposite edges to overlap the sleeve-flanges 8. The parts 12 and 13 are driven together with a tight fit after being placed on opposite sides of the sleeve-flanges 8, so that while they can revolve loosely around the sleeve they cannot be removed therefrom, the sleeve and annular flanges cooperating for that purpose.

Inasmuch as the weight applied to the curtain-ring pulls it down upon the upper portion of the pole, only a single bearing is necessary between the sleeve and its annulus if such bearing is located within the inner circumference of the curtain ring, as herein shown. When the curtain or portiere is pushed to one side, the annulus travels along the pole and revolves upon the bearing-roll, reducing the friction to a minimum, the curtain-ring thus running freely in either direction. A swivel-eye or other convenient device 50 is secured to the lower portion of the ring to which the curtain is attached, the two annuli and their bearings being symmetrically located with relation to such eye, as shown in Fig. 1.

If desired, I may provide the sleeves with side bearings to assist in guiding the annuli, and in Fig. 5 I have shown the sleeve-flanges provided with additional notches 14 14:, equidistant from the lower notches 9, for the journals of side or guide bearings (shown as rolls 15) similar to the roll 11. These side bearings cooperate with the annulus if it rocks in one direction or the other about the lower bearing 11.

In Fig. 6 I have shown a modification of the means for securing the sleeve in place on the ring. The part of the sleeve which extends over the slot 2 in the ring isdepressed, as at 18, into the slot, forming a lug on the interior of the sleeve, said lug entering the slot and locking sleeve and ring together without the use of a separate locking member. The upsetting or forming of the lug can be effected readily by hitting the sleeve with a suitable flat punch.

In Fig. 6 the sleeve is shown in place over the joint formed by the abutting ends of the ring, the joint being indicated by dotted lines, while in Fig. 2 the sleeve illustrated is shown as mounted on the, continuous portion of the ring. Manifestly whether the sleeve be constructed as shown in Fig. 2 or as shown in Fig. 6 it will when connecting the abutting ends occupy the position with relation to the joint such as is shown in Fig. 6.

My invention is not restricted to the precise construction and arrangement herein shown and described, as the same may be varied or modified in different details by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A curtain-ring, a sleeve secured thereto, a bearing rotatably mounted on the sleeve within the inner circumference of the ring, and-an annulus loosely surrounding and being retained in place byfthe sleeve andladapted to revolve upon the bearing.

2. A tubular curtain-ring having its ends abutting, a sleeve surrounding the abutted ends, means to lock the latter and sleeve to-' gether, a bearing rotatably mounted on the sleeve within the inner circumference of the ring, and an annulus loosely surrounding and being retained in place by the sleeve and adapted to revolve upon the bearing.

3. Acurtain-ring, a sleeve secured thereto, a bearing-roll mounted on the sleeve within the ring, and an annulus having inturned retaining-flanges loosely surrounding the sleeve and adapted to revolve upon the bearing-roll.

4. A curtain-ring having a plurality of sleeves secured thereto, an annulus loosely surrounding and being retained in place by each sleeve, and a bearing rotatably mounted in fixed position upon each sleeve within the inner circumference of the curtain-ring and upon which the corresponding annulus revolves.

5. A tubular curtain-ring having abutting ends, a sleeve surrounding said ends and connected therewith, a bearing-roll rotatably mounted on the sleeve in fixed position within the inner circumference of the ring, and an annulus loosely surrounding the sleeve and being adapted to revolve on the bearing-roll.

6. A curtain-ring, a sleeve secured thereon and having parallel annular flanges, a bearing-roll rotatably mounted in the flanges, and an annulus loosely surrounding the flanged portion of the sleeve and having inturned flanges to overlap the sleeve-flanges, said annulus revolving in contact with the bearingroll.

7. A curtain-ring, a sleeve thereon, a lock to cooperate with and positively connect the 7 ring and sleeve, a bearing-roll rotatably mounted in fixed position on the sleeve within the inner circumference of the ring, and an annulus loosely surrounding the sleeve and being retained in place thereby, said annulus revolving in contact with the bearing-roll.

8. A curtain-ring having a plurality of sleeves secured thereto, an annulus loosely surrounding and being retained in place by each sleeve, and three bearing-rolls rotatably mounted on each sleeve in fixed position, one of each set of rolls being located within the inner circumference of the ring and in contact with which rolls the corresponding annulus is adapted to revolve.

9. A curtain-ring having a plurality of annularly-flanged sleeves secured thereto, a bearing-roll rotatably mounted in the flanges of each sleeve, and a two-part annulus loosely surrounding each sleeve and adapted to revolve upon the bearing-roll thereof, each annulus consisting of two telescoped rings having inturned flanges at their outer edges.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence ot two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES V. LESLIE. \Vitnesses:

JOHN G. EDWARDS, EMILY C. Honsns. 

